Adjustable double-sealed material closure with integrated tensioning device

ABSTRACT

Current watersport and surf shorts do not offer a combination of waistband fit adjustability with a double-sealed closure that minimizes irritation. They also rely almost exclusively on centerline closures, which are proximate to the area of most contact and agitation between a paddling surfer and their board. My solution is an integrated tensioning device and fit-adjustable belt with a double-sealed closure located off of the wearer&#39;s centerline.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This is invention is an improved garment closure used to create an adjustable double-sealed non-irritating waistband closure, while maintaining performance standards for athletic wear, most notably for watersports and surfing.

The Problem

Waistband closures for shorts used during vigorous athletic activities, such as surfing and other watersports, tend to fall into two categories: Elastic waistbands and fixed waistbands. Elastic waistbands offer a range of fit adjustability, though frequently require an additional closure for security during vigorous activity (typically via a drawstring). Fixed waistbands offer a narrower range of fit adjustability while being secured by their single closure. The majority of both methods of construction feature a closure on the centerline.

Surfers spend a lot of time balancing on the centerline of their bodies as they paddle the board. The friction between their bodies and the waistband closure of their shorts can cause skin irritation and that same friction can agitate the closure, causing it to fail.

A product that incorporates features of fit adjustability while addressing problems related to closure failure and skin irritation would be a useful addition to the marketplace.

The Solution

My solution (invention) is an garment-integrated tensioning device and belt which secures via complementary hook and loop closures offset from the wearer's centerline. The integrated tensioning device is a paper-thin rigid metal material embedded into the garment on one side of the waistband centerline. The belt is affixed to the opposite side of the centerline. The belt crosses the centerline and passes through the aforementioned aperture. The belt then reverses back upon itself, pulling against the integrated tensioning device to adjust the fit. The belt's tip, or billet, has loop material on both sides—the length of the loop material area is approximately 1.5 times the width of the belt. Once the belt is pulled against the tensioning device the loop material on the garment-facing side of the billet is affixed to hook material on the waistband. The length of hook material corresponds to the length of loop material on the billet, though perfect alignment between the hook and loop is not required to secure the belt's billet. Directly above the waistband hook material area is a partially-attached flexible panel containing hook material on its underside. This panel is folded down, mating the hook material to the exposed loop material on the billet. As with the underside, perfect alignment is not required to secure the billet.

The resulting overlap between the hook material above and below forms a protective double-sealed closure off of the centerline of the wearer. The range of effective contact between the hook and loop material means fit adjustment can be achieved by repositioning the billet onto the waistband hook material area and covering the billet with the protective hinged material panel hook material.

Moving the closure off of center removes it from the area with the most contact and agitation between the surfer and the board. This minimizes factors that contribute to irritation. The surfer's body applies pressure and agitation to both sides of the off-center closure simultaneously, which can increase the security of the hook and loop material.

SUMMARY

Current watersport and surf shorts do not offer a combination of waistband fit adjustability with a double-sealed closure that minimizes irritation. They also rely almost exclusively on centerline closures, which are proximate to the area of most contact and agitation between a paddling surfer and their board. My solution is an integrated tensioning device and fit-adjustable belt with a double-sealed closure located off of the wearer's centerline.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: is an illustrative representation of a sampling of garment waistbands and closures commonly known in the art and/or presently available in the marketplace. These tend to fall into two categories: those with openings (typically fixed waistband) and those without an opening (typically elastic waistband).

Waistbands with an opening tend to have closures that meet at the centerline. Some closures allow for a degree of fit adjustability, e.g. lace and eyelet closures. Other closures, e.g. button or snap closures, do not accommodate fit adjustability. As may be appreciated with eyelet and lace closures using a typical bowknot, the more tension used the greater the closure security. Inserting slack into the lace can expand the fit, however, this slack can adversely affect the bowknot integrity, causing it to fail. Waistbands without an opening, e.g. elastic waistbands offer obvious fit adjustability though they do require an additional securing mechanism during vigorous watersport activity. This is typically provided by an interior eyelet and lace closure.

FIG. 1A: is an illustrative representation of a waistband closure featuring a lace passing through a set of eyelets; the number of eyelets can vary.

FIG. 1B: is an illustrative representation of a button or snap closure; the number of buttons or snaps can vary.

FIG. 1C: is an illustrative representation of an elastic waistband without an opening. FIG. 1D: is an illustrative representation of a double hook and loop waistband closure.

FIG. 2A: is an illustrative representation of a waistband closure in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. As illustrated, a waistband closure embodiment may have a belt (200) with loop material on both sides of its tip, or, billet (202 & 204). The belt may pass through an aperture (206), pull against an integrated tensioning device (208) to adjust fit. The belt may then affix to hook material on the garment waistband (210), said hook material positioned directly underneath a partially-attached flexible panel (212). Said partially-attached flexible panel features additional hook material (214) which is folded down onto the billet to form a doubly-secured closure. A small tab on the flexible panel (216) can be pulled up to expose the billet. A small area at the billet's tip (218) is free of hook and loop contact, and as such can be accessed to release the closure.

FIG. 2B: is an illustrative representation of an embodiment of the present invention shown with the waistband partially secured. The belt (200) has passed through the aperture (206), pulled against the integrated tensioning device (208), and is partially locked into place by mating the inner billet loop material (202; not shown in this figure) with the waistband hook material (210).

FIG. 2C: is an illustrative representation of an embodiment of the present invention shown with the waistband fully secured. The partially-attached flexible panel (212) has been folded down, allowing the hook material on its underside (214) to mate with the outer billet's loop material (204).

FIG. 3: is an illustrative representation of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The belt (300) may pass through an aperture (302) and pull against an integrated tensioning device (304). The belt's buttonhole (306) may then attach to one of two buttons on the waistband (308). A flexible material panel (310) with hook material on its underside (312) may then fold down onto adjacent loop material located on the waistband (314). A small tab on the flexible panel (316) may be pulled up to expose the billet. A small area of the billet's tip (318) may be pulled to assist in releasing the belt from its attachment.

FIG. 4: is an illustrative representation of an alternative embodiment of the present invention using an eyelet as a tensioning device. The belt (400) may pass through an aperture (406), pull against an integrated tensioning device (408) to adjust fit. The belt may then affix to hook material on the garment waistband (410), said hook material positioned directly underneath a partially-attached flexible panel (412). Said partially-attached flexible panel features additional hook material (414) on its underside which is folded down onto the billet to form a doubly-secured closure. A small tab on the flexible panel (416) can be pulled up to expose the billet. A small area at the billet's tip (418) is free of hook and loop contact, and as such can be accessed to release the closure.

FIG. 5: is an illustrative representation of an alternative embodiment of the present invention using a rigid cylindrical tensioning device. The belt (500) may pass through an aperture (506), pull against an integrated tensioning device (508) to adjust fit. The belt may then affix to hook material on the garment waistband (510), said hook material positioned directly underneath a partially-attached flexible panel (512). Said partially-attached flexible panel features additional hook material (514) on its underside which is folded down onto the billet to form a doubly secured closure. A small tab on the flexible panel (516) can be pulled up to expose the billet. A small area at the billet's tip (518) is free of hook and loop contact, and as such can be accessed to release the closure.

FIG. 6: is an illustrative representation of alternative applications for the present invention. A material closure can exist on multiple locations of a garment, such as the chest midline for a jacket or vest, and/or the hem area of a sleeve or pant cuff. Material closures also exist on items such as soft-sided luggage and/or camping gear.

Embodiments include having a belt which passes through an aperture, reverses direction to pull against an integrated tensioning device, and then double-seals with a partially-attached flexible protective closure. 

1. A means for connecting two components of a material garment or structure, comprising of: a. a strap attached on one side of a material structure, which passes through an aperture on an opposing side of the material structure and said strap's point of attachment, b. said strap then reversing back onto itself while pulling against an integrated rigid tensioning element adjacent to said aperture and proximate to the attachment of said strap, c. said strap being of sufficient length so that its billet extends past its point of attachment, d. onto a means of affixing the bottom side of said billet located on the originating side of material structure and aft of said strap attachment, e. which mates with affixing mechanism on the bottom side of said billet, f. means to affix top side of said billet located on the underside of a hinged material panel positioned directly above or adjacent to belt billet affixing area, g. said material panel connected to the base material and positioned to overlap affixing mechanism for the bottom side of said billet and of sufficient size to cover entire billet, h. mates with affixing mechanism on top of said billet, i. whereby said billet interposes both top and bottom affixing mechanisms resulting in a secure, protected material closure which can be engaged and disengaged repeatedly and/or adjusted for fit with minimal effort. 